In various central police organizations (CPOs) and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), 33 per cent post for IPS officers are lying vacant. These posts belong to Inspector-General (IG), Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Superintendent of Police (SP) level positions.
The Intelligence Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are facing the maximum crunch due to lack of officers at these levels, a report suggests.
According to government data accessed till last month, 206 positions for IPS officers were vacant in various forces and central agencies.
There are a total of 17 agencies and forces where IPS officers have a sanctioned strength of 670. The Intelligence Bureau had 82 vacancies against a total strength of 194 IPS officers. While, CBI has a sanctioned strength of 128 IPS officers, but 49 of these posts are vacant.
Among the paramilitary forces, the BSF has eight vacancies, the SSB has 11, and with 13 positions vacant, the CISF has the highest number of vacancies at the level of DIGs. In most forces, DIG-level posts remain vacant as officers join the force at the IG level.
The two premier agencies, CBI & IB, are followed by the CISF and the BSF in staff shortage.
There, however, are no vacancies for IPS officers at the top level, hinting that officials are keen to come on central deputation only at the top positions.
All vacancies are at the level of IG, DIG and SPs who supervise investigations and units. Across agencies and forces, majority of the posts vacant are at the mid-level, with experts suggesting that without making central deputation compulsory, filling up these positions would be difficult.
